Railway-car-dumping apparatus



M. J. HADDIGAN RAILWAY CAR DUMPTNG APPARATUS Filed July 13, 1922 4 Sheets-$heet l INVEVTOR. .J. Haidiyarz;

A TTORNEY.

Aug. 12, 1924 1,504,888

M. J. HADDIGAN RAILWAY CAR DUMPING APPARATUS Filed July 13, 1922 4 Sheet set 2 5 Zia ATTORNEY.

Aug. 12. 1924., 1,504,&ss

M J. HADDIGAN AILWAY CAR UMPING APPARATUS v Filed July 13, 1922 A 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR.

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A TTORNEY.

Aug, 12, 19%, 7 1,504,888

M. J. HADDIGAN RAILWAY GAR DUMPING APPARATUS Filed July 13. 1922 4 Sheets-Sheet 4' I NV EN TOR.

A TTORNEY.

Patented Aug 12, 1924.

MICHAEL J. HADDIGAN, or rnocara, ILLINOIS.

' RAILWAY-CAB-DUMPING .APLPARATUS.

Application filed July 13, 1922. Serial No. 574,771.

To all w 710m it may concern:

Be it known that Lh lIoHAnL J. Hnnniean, a citizen of the United States, residing at Peoria, in the county of Peoria and State of Illinois, have invented new and useful Improvements in Railway-Car-Dumping iipparatus; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it apper tains to make and use the same.

This invention pertains to dumping mechanism for cars. 1

More particularly the invention relates to apparatus upon which is mounted a car to be unloaded of grain, the same being so organized that the car may be tipped in three directions in order that the grain therein will be caused by gravity to be discharged through the door opening.

The object of the invention is to provide a mechanism for handling a car and dumping grain therefrom that can be readily controlled and operated in positive manner.

In. the appended drawings- Figure 1 is side elevation of my improved car dumping apparatus.

Figure 2 is an end elevation thereof.

Figure 3 is a plan of the same.

Figure 45 is a plan of parts of the apparatus not illustrated in Figure 8.

Figure 5 is a side elevation of parts shown in Figure 2.

Figure 6 is an end elevation in detail of a carriage shown in Figures 2 and 8.

Figure 7 is a. plan of gearing and winding drum, and

Figures: Sand 9 are side elevations indetail' of gearing shown in Figure 1.

My invention resides in mounting a platform for a car upon acentral support, providing mechanism for causing the car to be tipped thereon to any one of three necessary positions for complete dumping and then returning the platform and car to normal position.

That this may be accomplished I preferably provide, as in Figure 2, a spherically curved block 1, fitting upon which is a saddle-block 2. Resting upon and secured to the latter is a series of supports such as I- beams 3, for example, upon which the platform for the car is mounted. This platform is shownin Figure 4. While this platform would be more or less visible in Figures 1 and 3 its parts are not there shown in order that those figures may not be unduly complicated and difficult to read. However, said platform Figure 4, may comprise a series of cross-members 4L laid upon and secured to the said I-beams 3 together with longi tudinal members 5, while track rails 6 are placed upon the said cross-members and spiked in position.

The track rails and the Lbeams are preferably about equal in length to the car to be handled, Figure 1. and their ends project/e ing beyond the platform are trussed; in any approved manner to properly support the load to be imposed upon them, the entire structure being wholly supported and carried by the said saddle-block.

The rails 6, thus mounted, are flush with the track rails 7 leading to the apparatus, Figures 1 and 8. I

It is my purpose to rigidly secure the car with respect to the platform made up of the members at and 5 described, and to this end clamping means is provided such as is shown in Figures 1, 2 and 4. Extending through the opposite end of the longitudinal members 5, for example, of said platform are shafts 8 adapted to turn therein but held from longitudinal movement by collars 9, for example, at each side of said members, Figure 9. The projecting ends of the shafts are threaded, extend through and engage in suitable manner clamping frames 10, lying above and at each side of the track and adapted to clamp a. car placed between them, there being companion shafts 8 in said frame. The threads on the shafts are right and left cut so that when the shafts are ro tated the said clamp will be brought into firm engagement with the sides of the car or separated therefrom according to the di rection of their rotation. v

The means employed for turning the shafts may comprise a sprocket wheel 11 on each shaft, over which. a sprocket chain 12 is trained, there being a shaft 13 journaled on the platform, Figure 2, on which a sprocket-wheel 14: is secured which the chain also engages. The shaft 13 also has a gear 15 adapted to mesh with similar gears 16 driven by any suitable power arrangement, there being included, as shown in Figure 1, a suitable clutch arrangement 16 through which the said shafts 8, 8 are driven in .either' direction, the type of clutch bemg immaterial. And, of course, other types of driving members may be used.

When the platfrom'and car are tilted for dumping purposes the gear is necessarily disengaged from the gears 16 and meshes with either of them upon return of the car to its upright position. The manner of tilting the platform and the car will be clear from the following, it being'understood that the connection between the clamps 10 and the platform through the shafts 8 and other .means that may be used, is such that the car, even when loaded, will be retained in position on and with respect to said platform. 1

A framing made up of uprights 17 and over head'members 18, for example, connecting them is erected in positionto carry at opposite sides an overhead track 19 supporting a traveling crane designated as a whole at 20 by means of rollers2l, said crane lying at right angles to the track rails 6 and adapted to travel in a direction parallel thereto. Journaled on the crane is a shaft 22, Figures 2 and 3, havingat each end a pinion 23 to engage a rack-bar 24 mounted on each end of the framing. Said shaft also carries at one end a bevel gear 25 to engage a similar gear 26, within which an upright shaft 27 is slidable. V

A suitable framing 28 is erected below the last named shaft on which is journaled a power driven shaft 29 on which two spaced bevel gears 30 are rotatably. mounted, Figure 9. A clutch member 31' is keyed to the shaft 29 and is slidable whereby to engage the hub of either gear. The lower end of the upright shaft carries a gear 32 fixed thereto and meshes with both gears 30'. is a bracket, Figure 8', having bearings 34 one of which embraces the shaft 22, the other embracing the said upright shaft 27, the lat ter being slidable therein. Likewise a simi lar bracket bearing 35 embraces the shafts 27 and 29, a suitable collar 36 fixed on the latter a6, threaded throughout part of its length,

which at one end has a bevel gear 38 meshing with a similar gear 39011 a second upright shaft 40, Figure 1, a bracket bearing (not shown) akin to that just described and .shown in'Figure 8, being employed to hold the gears in mesh and permit the said upright shaft 40 to slide therein. At the lower end of the shaft 40, also, is a bracket bearing, not shown, identical with that dei scribed and shown in' Figure 9, and likewise the same arrangement of gear and clutch structures employed as has been described, a power shaft 41,'F igure 1, being used. As shown inFigure 8 the upper ends of the shafts 27.jand-40. ,areeach provided with av key-way 42 by which, through a key not shown, the gears 26 and 39 are positively driven by said shafts.

The crane 20, for convenience, is made up of two members 20 forming spaced tracks supporting by rollers 43 a carriage 44 which has journaled thereon a pair of grooved pulleys 45, Figure 2. A cable 46 is attached at one end to a part of the crane and passes over the said pulleys, there being suspended on the cable between the latter a pulley 47 from which is hung a frame 48 by means of cables 49, for example, as in Figures 1, 2 and 3. This frame is preferably of a size substantially equal to the clamping frames 10 as viewed in plan and is connected to the lat ter .by suitable chains for example, there being sufiicient play in the latter to permit the frames to be'separated or brought toward one another in their clamping action explained.

The cable 46 is trained over a pulley 50 mounted on the crane and extends downwardly upon a winding drum 51 of a shaft 52 journaled on a frame 53. Said shaft has a worm-wheel 54, Figure 7, meshing with which is a worm 55, on a power driven shaft 56, Figure 7, also journaled on said frame 53, there being gears 56 loose on said shaft with which meshes a gear 57 fixed on a power shaft 58. A clutch 59 keyed on the shaft 56 but slidable along the same serves to reverse the direction of rotation of said drum. Extending from one side of the car riage 44 is an arm 60, Figures 3 and 6, having a threaded bore at its free extremity to receive the threaded shaft 37 of said crane.

The saddle-block 2 is adapted to rock upon the block 1 as required and in its normal position with the car i'ipright, as shown in Figure 2, the weight of the load is at one side of the center of support. That is to say, as shown in said figure the center of the track and the load thereon is somewhat to the right of the center of the block 1 about which the saddle block 2 swings, and to such an extent that said load is never in danger of voluntarily moving from the position shown, being supported in such position by prop-legs 1 extending from the saddle-block and resting upon the foundation upon which the structure is mounted Figures 2, 3, 4 and 5.

As the purpose of the apparatus is to tilt the car sidewise as shown in broken lines in Figure 2 and then endwise in each direction while so tilted, so that grain will be wholly discharged, the overhead crane structure is provided that these several positions may be had.

In order to tilt the car to the dotted line position referred to, the clutch in control of the gearing for the upright shaft 40, Figure 1, is thrown into the proper position to move the carriage along the crane 20 to the left as viewedin Figure 2, tension on IOU ' N ow by paying out the cable 46 by throwing the clutch 59 into the proper gear 56, the car is permitted to incline to such an angle as to permit the grain to flow.

opposite the door opening will pass out by gravity.

As an additionalsupport for the weight placed upon the cable 4C6 when the car is thus tilted a link 1 is pivoted to the saddle block, Figures 2 and 5 which engages .a stud 1 projecting from the rear side of the block 1 and which, when the car is upright depends into a pit 1 but this may not be used.

When all the grain that will flow has been discharged while in the position described, the clutch 31 for the upright shaft is thrown into one or ,the' other of the gears 30, Figures 1 and 9 whereupon the crane 20 is shifted along its rails, the cable L6 being meanwhile paid out to the required extent to permit the car to tilt endwise.

At this time the grain will flowfrom the highend of the car downward and out of the door opening, following whichthe cable is taken up and the clutch 31 reversed in position to carry the car to the other extreme of endwise tilted position to discharge from its other end.

In these endwise tiltings when, .as described, the crane moves along its tracks the upright shafts 27 and 4L0 must of necessity take up inclined positions, (dotted lines Figure 1) pivoting upon their respective power shafts journaled on the frame 28, their upper ends sliding through the gears 26 and 39 respectively.

When dumping is complete the crane is restored to a central position on its supporting frame and the cable is taken up by the drum 51, the carriage 4:4 being restored to a position substantially directly above the center of the block 1 returning the car to a beyond-center position on the latter.

While I have shown preferred forms of mechanism for accomplishing the purposes for which the crane and its operating gearing are intended I wish it to be understood that equivalent means or other forms may be employed.

I claim- 1. A railway-car dumping-apparatus including in its construction a platform to carry the car to be dumped, a frame cagried This angle is such that all of the grain lying onthe floor universal joint supporting the platform,

means including a power source for operating the clamp to secure the car with re-" spect to the platform, and a suspended overhead .mechanism attached to the clamp adapted to move the platform upon the support.

3. A railway-car dumping-apparatus including .in its construction a platform to carry the car to be dumped, means to secure the car with respect to the platform, 'a universal joint supporting the platform, a suspended overhead mechanism-attached to the said means adapted to be shifted in position with respect to the same for tilting the car inadesired direction on said joint.

4:- In a railway-car-dumping-apparatus a pivotally supported platform to carry the car, a frame carried by the platform ateach side of the car, shafts above and below the car engaging the frames adapted to move them to clamp them upon the car, gearing connecting the shafts to operate all of them simultaneously including a power driven member, means to tilt the platform and the car, and a power drive positioned to receive and operate the said power driven member in the normal upright position of the plat form.

'5 Ina railway-car dumping-apparatus a pivotally supported platform to carry the car, a frame carried by the platform at each side of the car, shafts above and below the car engaging the frames adapted to move them to clamp them upon the car. gearing connecting the shafts to operate all of them simultaneously including a power driven member, means to tilt the platform and the car, a power device positioned to receive and operate the said power driven member in the normal upright position of the platform, and means to reverse the direction of rotation of the said power device.

6. A railwaycar dumping-apparatus including in its construction a platform pivotally mounted, an overhead support, a traveling overhead crane, means for moving the crane in each of two opposite directions, a carriage mounted on the crane, means to move the carriage in a direction at right angles to the direction of movement of the crane, a cable suspended from the carriage operatively connected with the platform, and means to pay out and take up the same. 7 Arailway-car dumping-apparatus including in its construction a platform pivotally mounted, a frame at each side of a car carried by the platform, threaded shafts engaging the frames adapted to clamp them upon the car, gearing to operate the shafts, a power device with which the gearing is adapted to engage, an overhead support, a traveling overhead crane, means for movlng the crane in each of two opposite directions, .a carriage mounted on the crane, means to move the carriage in a direction at right angles to the direction of movement of the crane, a cable suspended from the carriage operatively connected with the platform, and means to pay out and take up the same. railway-oar dumping-apparatus including in its construction a platform to receive a car to be dumped, a spherically curved" base, and a saddle block adapted to by its center of gravity fit upon the spherically curved surface of the base and having the platform secured thereto.

,9. A railway-cardumping-apparatus inc'luding'in its ceive a car' to be dumped, a spherically curved base, a saddle-block adapted to fit upon the spherically curved surface of the base and having the platform secured thereto, said platform when'in normal upright position being disposed upon the base wherelies at one side of a vertical line passing through the center from which the curve of said base is described, and means to support the platform in that position.

10. A car dumping apparatus including in its construction a dome shaped support, a car carrying platform mounted thereon having unrestricted movement thereover,

the center of gravity of the platform in its upright position lying at 'one side of the center about which the domed surface of the support 'is'described, and mechanism operconstruction a platform to re-' atively attached to the platform for controllin its movements.

11. i car dumping apparatus including in its construction a platform for carrying a car, a support upon which the platform is supported adapted to have universal movement about a central point, the center of gravity of the platform with the car when the latter is upright lying to one side of said central point, means to secure the car and platform relatively, mechanism in control of the platform for holding it upright upon the support and for permitting said platform to move by gravity on said support including an overhead framing, a carriage to travel upon the crane at right angles to the travel of the latter, means supported on the carriage and operatively connected with the platform controlling the same, and separate operating means or moving the carriage and crane independently including a common power source.

12. In a car dumping apparatus, the combination of a platform for a car mounted to have a universal swinging movement, an overhead traveling support capable of movement in directions at right angles to one another, two operating means each for imparting movement to the support in a given direction, and mechanism suspended from the support operatively connected with the platform to permit it to tilt by gravity and to restore it to a normal position of rest including a powersource by which, also, the said two operating means are controlled.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

MICHAEL J. HADDIGAN. 

